Nebraska Medicaid: Respite hours request process change

To prevent a duplication of services, starting Nov. 1, 2025, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Nebraska will begin to transition requests for respite hours to applicable Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) waivers and programs.

Respite care relieves the caregiver of the need to provide services to the member. Respite is a covered benefit of certain Nebraska waiver programs or DHHS’s Special Health Care Needs program that includes lifespan respite and is not a covered benefit through Medicaid.

What this means for you

No action is needed from you for this transition to occur. We’ll transition respite hours for members who are on waivers that have respite as a covered benefit instead of receiving respite hours through the managed care organization. We’ll allow a 60-day period for transition/coordination with waiver service coordinators.

Members receiving respite hours who don’t have waiver coverage will continue to have respite needs assessed on an individual basis. Authorized respite hours will not exceed the standard provided by Nebraska waiver programs.